House bill seeks to raise legal age of drinking to 21
A bill has been filed in Congress seeking to raise the minimum legal age of drinking from 18 to 21 years of age.
Under House Bill No. 1753 or the Anti-Underage Drinking Act, filed by Representatives Eric Yap and Paolo Duterte, "unqualified individuals" will be prohibited from buying alcohol or have others buy alcoholic beverages for them.
Unqualified individuals include those aged below 21 years old as well as those over 21 but are "unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition."
Rep. Paolo Duterte's website
Establishments such as bars, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, supermarkets, and more will be prohibited from selling alcohol to individuals that fall under the category.
Currently, the minimum legal age for drinking in the Philippines is 18, and the proposal to raise the age is part of the government's "efforts to eliminate alcohol abuse and reduce underage drinking."
According to the bill, violators will be required to attend counseling before the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC). On their second offense, they will be required to attend two consecutive counseling sessions with the BCPC with a parent or guardian. For the third and subsequent offense, the unqualified individual will be handed over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office for counseling.
Persons of legal age and establishments who violate the proposed bill will be slapped with a P50,000 fine or imprisonment of not more than three months.